Welcome to WTOP’s inaugural month-to-month characteristic of “What’s up within the sky?” Here’s what D.C. stargazers can look ahead to relating to the moon, stars and planets in January.
“What’s up within the sky?” is a recurring characteristic and publishes on the primary of each month. You can discover it on WTOP’s The Space Place. Email Greg your house questions and he would possibly reply them within the subsequent version.
Welcome to WTOP’s inaugural month-to-month characteristic of “What’s up within the sky?” Each month will characteristic the most effective the sky has to supply stargazers relating to the moon, planets and stars and space-related occasions which may curiosity you going down within the D.C. area shall be included as effectively.
Maybe you bought fortunate with Santa and you’ve got new binoculars, an astronomy app and/or telescope to usher in a yr of stargazing. If not, it’s by no means too late to get geared up!
Let’s get to the sky for January 2025!
The web has headlines about what’s being hailed as a uncommon “January 25 parade of planet.” The on-line tales are stuffed with hype and inaccuracies and a few even focus extra on astrology than astronomy.
The actual deal is that January 2025 is a really thrilling month and begin to the New Year for stargazers.
Must-see sky sights for January
The brilliant and wonderful constellations of winter will greet you as quickly because it will get darkish. Take a while to seek out Orion the Hunter, Taurus the Bull, Gemini the Twins and others.
Jan. 2-3: Quadrantid Meteor Shower
Jan. 3: The crescent moon and brilliant Venus pair up within the Southwestern sky at nightfall. Look for Earthshine on the moon.
Jan. 4: The waxing crescent moon and Saturn pair up excessive within the Southwestern sky at nightfall
Jan. 9: The waxing gibbous moon is within the Pleiades Star Cluster. Binoculars are really helpful to see this one.
Jan. 10: The waxing gibbous moon and Jupiter pair up excessive within the East.
Jan. 12: Mars is closest to Earth 9 a.m. at 59,703,891 miles.
Jan. 13-14: This is the spotlight of the month because the moon occults (covers) Mars. Check the listing to see the closest metropolis to your location. Be exterior earlier than the time listed. Binoculars and telescopes are perfect for this occasion. Mars disappears at 9:16 p.m. in D.C. and reappears at 10:30 p.m.
Jan. 15-16: Mars is at opposition within the Eastern sky at sundown and visual all night time.
Jan. 17: Venus pairs up with Saturn within the Southwestern sky at nightfall.
Jan. 17: Bright and reddish-orange Mars strains up with the 2 brightest stars in Gemini, the Twins — Castor and Pollux — for an eye fixed catching sight of the three of them in a line within the East.
Jan. 31: The waxing crescent moon shall be to the decrease proper of Saturn with Venus above at nightfall.
Jan. 31: Once once more Mars and the 2 brightest stars in Gemini, the Twins — Castor and Pollux — be part of up, this time for a formidable triangle shaped by the three of them within the East.
The moon
Jan. 6: First quarter
Jan. 13: January’s full moon is known as the complete wolf moon
Jan. 21: Last quarter
Jan. 29: New moon
The planets
In January, Mercury is low within the Southeast sky about an hour earlier than dawn and binoculars will assist immensely to seek out the intense yellowish planet.
Venus blazes above the southwest horizon because it will get darkish, you may’t miss it.
Earth is at perihelion (closest to the Sun for the yr) on Jan. 4 at 8 a.m. 147,103,686 km.
Mars is closest to the Earth and at its brightest this month and is sort of the sight. Mars rises within the East at 8 p.m. because the month begins however reaches opposition, which is instantly reverse the Sun and rising at sundown on Jan. 15. In a small telescope some floor options might be noticed and recognized with this nifty device.
Jupiter is brilliant and situated excessive within the sky all month, solely the moon and Venus are brighter than the king of the planets. A pair of seven×50 binoculars will present the 4 major moons of Jupiter wanting like “stars” in a line which always modifications. You can determine the moons through the use of this hyperlink. A small telescope can reveal options in Jupiter’s environment.
Saturn is excessive within the southwestern sky. A small telescope will present that Saturn’s rings are presently virtually edge on, which is sort of the sight.
Uranus might be noticed with binoculars utilizing this star chart to find it. In small telescopes you may detect the colour of the planet however not a lot else.
Neptune wants a telescope to be seen and it’s price seeing its deep blue coloration.
Pluto is method on the market within the photo voltaic system and requires taking photos via a telescope spaced days aside to hunt it down.
DC-area occasions
January occasions at Virginia State Parks might be discovered right here.
The NOVAC General Meeting shall be at George Mason University at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 12.
The National Capital Astronomers may have its assembly at 7 p.m. on Jan. 11. The subject shall be “On the Trail of the Missing Galaxies: The Oldest Stars within the Neighborhood” and shall be led by Thomas Brown (STScI), On the Trail of the Missing Galaxies: The Oldest Stars within the Neighborhood.
The Analemma Society shall be holding Friday Night Public Viewing Sessions at Observatory Park at Turner Farm in Great Falls, Virginia, from 7:30-9:30 p.m.
The Smithsonian Air & Space in D.C. and Chantilly has numerous astronomy-related stuff in January.
You can test right here and right here for astronomy golf equipment which can be exterior the DMV.
Added bonus
Download NASA’s 2025 Science calendar, which options out of this world photos and data.
The Planetary Society’s Space Events 2025 Calendar is one other useful resource for monitoring house missions.
Use this great tool to create a customized star chart on your location that will help you discover your method across the stars.
You may ship in any house associated inquiries to my e-mail tackle. Suggestions about this characteristic are additionally welcome.
You are beginning off 2025 proper by having fun with the wonder and serenity of the night time sky … and you’ll be glad you probably did.
Follow Greg Redfern on Facebook, Bluesky and his each day weblog to maintain up with the most recent information in astronomy and house exploration.
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